King’s won the award, sponsored by the DfEE and Lloyds TSB, for a flexible working strategy to tackle skills shortages. It included job shares, temporarily reduced hours, leave for carers and a workplace nursery.

Lorman said the Trust’s KingsFlex scheme offered all staff the opportunity to balance their work and personal commitments. Managers are encouraged to be responsive to all requests and clear guidelines have been drawn up to ensure a consistent approach.

She said, “This is the way ahead for all employers, not just those in the public sector. For us it was a question of being proactive to solve the problems we faced.”